GeoFacts No. 32 OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES • DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OHIO DIMENSION STONE

Dimension stone is quarried rock that is cut and finished to Some other geologic units previously used as dimension stone specific sizes and shapes. Globally, dimension stone is sourced include the limestone of the Ordovician-age Richmond Forma- from a variety of rock types, including limestone, marble, tion, Silurian-age Clinton Formation and Brassfield Limestone, travertine, granite, quartzite, and sandstone. The distinction the shale and sandstone of the Mississippian-age Bedford Shale, between rock being labeled as either dimension stone or simply and more recently the Mississippian-age Buena Vista Sandstone “building stone” lies in whether the final products are sawn and of the Cuyahoga Formation in Scioto County. The quarrying of split into geometric shapes or merely crushed and sorted into some of these formations was generally unprofitable in the long general categories. Aggregate for road construction or riprap term because of impurities present in the rock, lack of extent or for erosion control also have size and shape specifications that thickness, or more suitable replacement formations becoming must be met, but they typically are not classified as dimension available. stone. Dimension stone is often used as building blocks, ashlar Historically, the Devonian-age Berea Sandstone and Pennsyl- veneer, wall façades, sills, paver tiles, slabs, steps, benches, or vanian-age Massillon sandstone were two of the most profitably other decorative accents. Rarely is dimension stone used today mined dimension stones in the state, and they dominate the for structural support purposes; instead, it is used primarily for present-day Ohio market. The Berea Sandstone has been the decoration and added durability. The worth of dimension stone most extensively quarried and widely used dimension stone in is not derived from its physical properties alone, but rather Ohio. In the early 1800s, the first Berea Sandstone quarries from the increased product value that comes with high-quality were opened in Cuyahoga County, and they continue to operate finishing and extra detail. today. The Berea is more than 200 feet thick in some locations Ohio ranks in the top 20 of dimension stone-producing states and less than two feet thick in others, depending on the stream and in the top five of dimension sandstone producers. Ohio channel depths and distance from the sediment supply over 350 dimension sandstone resources are rated as some of the high- million years ago. The planar continuous bedding, blue-gray to est quality products in the United States and have maintained light-brown color, and resistance to weathering make it highly their popularity for decades since they were first developed in desirable as building stone and easily marketable as distinct the mid-1800s. Today, nearly all the dimension stone produced varieties. Quarrying of the Massillon sandstone began during in Ohio is sandstone; however, limestone and granite dominate the mid-nineteenth century in Holmes County and continues dimension stone production nationwide, consisting of over two- in both Coshocton and Knox Counties today. The Massillon thirds of total production. sandstone continues to support a regional market and is highly Ohio dimension stone represents a link to Ohio history, both as marketable because of its unique and variable appearance. a clue to the geologic landscape of the state millions of years ago The combination of prevalent crossbedding, impurities among and as a reminder of the struggles and accomplishments of early quarries, and varying degrees of oxidation result in a variety of settlers. As the economy, technology, architectural trends, and colors and patterns. Iron banding is present in some quarrying public perception have transformed over the past two hundred locations and is a desirable feature for some customers. years, so have dimension stone uses.

HISTORY OF DIMENSION STONE USE The widespread use of dimension stone in Ohio began during the mid-eighteenth century when European colonizers began to create permanent settlements, which necessitated sturdier structures, agricultural equipment such as grindstones, and eventually monuments and décor. The Ohio dimension stone industry historically has consisted of western Ohio limestones and eastern Ohio sandstones. As the population of Ohio grew, so did the demand for dimen- sion stone, thus the number of quarries and quarrying companies increased. Many building blocks were transported via river and eventually via canal and railroad. The canal systems and the dimension stone industry mutually benefitted and propagated one another. Dimension stone was not only used in the construction of canal locks and other structures but was delivered to custom- The Cleveland Quarries Birmingham quarry where two distinct colors of Berea ers by means of these waterways. Sandstone, known as “Birmingham Buff” and “Amherst Gray,” are produced. Some of the earliest stones quarried for dimension stone were Silurian- and Devonian-age limestones. During the early 1800s, PRODUCTION METHODS the Devonian-age Columbus and Delaware Limestones were used extensively for home building in central Ohio and especially in A multitude of production techniques are used at other sites the counties bordering Lake Erie. The older Silurian-age Dayton and for other lithologies around the world, but the methods used Limestone was used widely throughout Dayton and southwestern in Ohio are limited to those appropriate for the local sandstone Ohio as well. Its laterally continuous bedding and resistance to and most suitable for each company. Sandstone is removed from weathering made it popular in the region. a quarry and then fractionated into smaller pieces with more

continued ➮ precise dimensions and details until it reaches the desired final or banding, and inconsistent textures. Quarrying a single block form and size. The initial cutting or breaking of the stone from of dimension stone requires significant time, so losing viable the quarry is typically achieved by either precision sawing or di- product to defects or error can become a financial liability. rectional blasting with explosives. Quarry saws can be positioned to remove blocks of specific measurements by cutting blocks in MARKET FOR OHIO DIMENSION STONE two directions and then taking advantage of natural bedding planes to free them from the quarry floor. Once positioned, these The use of native Ohio stone for construction should be praised saws can complete cuts automatically. Operations that employ and supported both for its economic benefits to the state and blasting to remove sandstone blocks first will create a series of cultural benefits it will give future generations. Ohio will face drill holes oriented in the preferred direction of blast propagation. ever-increasing competition from international sources of dimen- Large columnar masses of rock can be removed all at once using sion stone because of the economic feasibility of long-distance this method. Natural fractures or crevices in the quarry face help transport and increased overseas production. The use of dimension to control rock column width, and diesel-powered loaders break stone for historical building preservation is a growing market in columns into smaller portions for transport. Ohio which encourages domestic stone production. Crumbling Once rock has been extracted from the quarry it must be nineteenth-century historic buildings in need of preservation or transported to a plant for processing and finishing. Depending on restoration often use stone similar in lithology and source loca- the quarry depth and accessibility, blocks are lifted onto flatbed tion to the original rock. The recreating or duplication of specific trucks or railcars either by hoist or other loading equipment for features of historic buildings can grow into a larger market in transport to the production facility. Production plants ideally Ohio as buildings continue to age and new construction eventu- will be in geographic proximity to their associated quarries to ally succumbs to time. minimize transportation costs, but this is not as much of a neces- Recently, a concentrated education effort by building-stone sity for dimension stone as with lower cost-per-ton commodities. affiliated organizations and professional publications has en- Waste rock material that is not suitable as dimension stone can couraged “eco-friendly building” or “green building” through the be cleared from the quarry and sold as aggregate or used for use of dimension stone. Dimension stone is often disregarded reclamation purposes. in favor of less-expensive substitutes, such as concrete, steel, The most interesting and publically visible aspect of dimen- glass, or synthetic materials that require significant additional sion stone production is the finishing process. Multiple slabs of energy or water to produce or that create substantial air pollu- established thicknesses are sawn from larger blocks or boulders tion. Dimension stone production is the least energy intensive using reciprocating gang saws or oscillating wire saws. These and generates the smallest amount of air and water pollution of slabs are further split into smaller geometric shapes, depending all these building materials. It also ranks highly in durability, on the final product and finishing method. Preprogrammed saws ease of care, longevity, and recyclability. Choosing dimension then trim the sandstone into the desired shapes, and details can stone for a construction project becomes financially justifiable be added by hand when necessary. The hand-chiseling of dimen- when it can be marketed as environmentally friendly, aestheti- sion stone is a modern-day art form that requires an inherent cally pleasing, and durable enough to be used in buildings that talent which takes years to develop; thus hiring capable stone history may deem as culturally significant for hundreds of years. carvers is exceptionally difficult. FURTHER READING Bownocker, J.A., 1915, Building stones of Ohio: Columbus, Geological Survey of Ohio, Fourth Series, Bulletin 18, 160 p. Hannibal, J.T., 1993, Ohio’s legacy in stone in Weisgarber, S.L., 1993, 1992 Report on Ohio mineral industries: Ohio Division of Geological Survey, p. 5–8. Hannibal, J.T., and Davis, R.A., 1992, Guide to the building stones of downtown Cincinnati: Ohio Division of Geological Survey Guidebook No. 7, 44 p. Hannibal, J.T., and Schmidt, M.T., 1992, Guide to the building stones of downtown Cleveland: Ohio Division of Geological Survey Guidebook No. 5, 33 p. Melvin, R.W., and McKenzie, G.D., 1992, Guide to the building stones of downtown Columbus: Ohio Division of Geological Survey Guidebook No. 6, 33 p. Schumacher, G.A., Mott, B.E., and Angle, M.P., 2013, Ohio’s geology Gang saw being used to cut a block of Massillon sandstone into slabs at The in core and outcrop—A field guide for citizens and environmental Briar Hill Stone Company plant located in Glenmont, Ohio. Average sized and geotechnical investigators: Ohio Division of Geological Survey blocks weigh approximately 10 tons. Information Circular 63, 191 p. No matter what production or finishing method is chosen, an Stucker, J.D., 2015, Report on Ohio Mineral Industries: Ohio Division operation can face numerous problems that are often out of its of Geological Survey, 36 p. control. Some of these include unexpected variations in rock Wolfe, M.E., 2011, Building stones of the Ohio capitols: Ohio Division of color or gradation, fractures, thin bedding, mineral inclusions Geological Survey Educational Leaflet 19.

• This GeoFacts compiled by J. D. Stucker • February 2016 • The Division of Geological Survey GeoFacts Series is available online at www.OhioGeology.com. STATE OF OHIO DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES